Editorial: Listening - Bragg, community synergy are in the spotlight

Army officials came to Fayetteville on Monday to listen to civilians. They heard a strong message: The life of this city and region, including our economy, is thoroughly intertwined with Fort Bragg.

Because of budget reductions, the Army must get smaller. Between now and 2017, it will pare away 80,000 soldiers. It will lose eight brigade combat teams.

Since the 82nd Airborne gained one of those brigades during the Iraq war, it's possible that some force reductions will occur here. Our hope, though, is that any cuts in conventional forces will be offset by strong gains in special operations troops, whose skills will be in big demand after everyone else has come home from Afghanistan.

About 200 people attended the Army's listening session in Fayetteville Monday morning. It was one of about 30 such meetings being held across the country, in communities that host Army posts.

We doubt that any of those cities and towns want to lose the troops, and the business that they pump into the local economy. But those 80,000 cuts must be found.

On Monday, mayors, politicians, business leaders and others made this area's case. It's a strong one. Fayetteville and the surrounding region give a lot to the Army, from family support to education to a host of training opportunities outside the bounds of Fort Bragg.

And to a great extent, Fort Bragg makes its own case as well. It's easily the most important Army post in the country, the home of the airborne and special operations troops who are our first responders to trouble spots and disasters around the world. If there is any post that must be kept strong, this is it.

Fort Bragg generates almost $11 billion a year in the local economy. It's impossible to understate how important that is to the region's economic wellbeing. We're pleased that so many key members of the business and education communities recognize that and contributed their comments to the meeting.

Final decisions on troop cutbacks will be made this summer and put in place over the next four years. We hope the Army will continue to recognize Fort Bragg's importance to national defense and this community's value to Fort Bragg.

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